Telegraphic News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 233, 26 February 1876, Page 9

Telegraphic News.

Auckland, Friday. In reply to a request from Howe, M.H.R., for a further grant of money to employ the Thames miners, Vogel telegraphs:—“We have already enabled £50,000 to be lent to try Thames goldfields. No Government in any other of the colonies has done so much. It would be ridiculous to spend money for the mere purpose of keeping men at the Thames. If labor is not required there, plenty of labor is required in other pai'ts of the colony j and, if necessary, the Government would aid the unemployed to go to parts where employment offers. Dr. Pollen has left for. Auckland. — Julius Vogel.” Saturday. The following additional telegrams . have passed between Eowe and Vogel, relative to the Thames unemployed :—“ Hon. Sir Julius Vogel, Wellington. —Works upon which men would* be employed are works which it is duty of Government to carry out and would benefit whole district; will be required here shortly. We could have done the work if our revenue had not been taken from us. We will. not let them leave province if we can help it. —W. Rowe.” To this the following reply was received —“ Government Buildings, 12.30 p.m. —W Howe, M.H.R.—As I understood the case, it was that the goldfields not being prosperous you desire Government to employ men, to induce them to remain there. Such proposal carries its own condemnation. You now say employment will shortly offer. Of course in proportion to probability of this contingency former position is affected ; but matter is outside my department, and would suggest that you communicate with Dl Pollen and Major Atkinson. —JULIUS VoGEL.” A Maketu telegram states that the murdered man Petara Koikoi’s widow, daughter, and brother have returned to Uriwera. The TJriweras have requested the Arawas not to interfere between them and their just revenge. They say they are sharpening their tomahawks. The Arawas have agreed to their request. The natives from Katikati declare that the murderers attended the recent investigation held at Tairua as spectators. They are well known, and could have been taken within thirty-four hours. The bond and security in the election petition against Captain Read have been lodged with the returning officer at Maketu. The report that the Epsom murderer had been seen at Rangitoto is a complete sell. The police after remaining all night returned. They state that the man seen was a Portuguese. Active search is proceeding in the Waikato. Every avenue of escape is guarded, and it is stated positively that the murderer is in the Piako district. Monday. By an arrangement with the General Government the £4OOO balance of the £40,000 advance to the province is to be devoted to the employment of the Thames miners. The Mayor exchanged congratulatory telegrams with the Mayor of Sydney to-day, on the opening of the cable. Several cases of diphtheria are reported. Tuesday. An exciting race took place to-day between the American schooner yacht Peerless, which was seized at Samoa), and the Auckland yachts Secret and Daphne. Both Auckland yachts, although they are little more than half the tonnage of the Peerless, beat the American schooner by some miles. The Secret was first, Daphne second. The Governor held a well attended levee. Wednesday. The cricket match between the Auckland United Club and the Thames team was won by Auckland.

Ghahamstown, Friday.. It is stated that the Mining Inspector intends to re-enter upon the Queen of Beauty and Bright Smile mines. Saturday. A.ll the men on road work at YT’aitekaun have been dismissed, and most of them have returned to the Thames. The Waitekaun road is represented as still impassable, and requiring several hundred pounds before machinery can be got up. Wednesday. Sir George Grey arrived last night, and has been engaged all day with deputations. In reply to a request to improve Tairua, Sir George said a wrong impression got abroad. He had not £4OOO to spend. That was. all appropriated. He would remember the Tairua deputation, and if his last application to the General Government was successful, he would be anxious to aid in making a road to Tairua. A number of the unemployed asked for free passages to Wellington. Thursday. The Superintendent returned to Auckland to-day. He received more deputations before leaving. He has authorised the payment of £IOOO, to be divided amongst the Borough and Road Boards. The District Engineer has also been instructed to put the Tairua track in order, and to improve others in the Ohinemuri district. Alexandra, Tuesday. It is rumored that Tahuna Rewi met Winiata, his brother, at Hangiata on Sunday morning, en route for Kuiti. T. Hinton, A.C., met with a serious accident yesterday whilst pigeon-shooting at Pironga. His carbine exploaded while loading—it was a breech-loader —and caused serious injury to his eyes. Doss of sight is expected. Wednesday. Winiata’s arrival in the King Country is well authenticated. He is now at Pukemapa with Paiwhenui and other relatives, between Hangatiki and Kuiti. Tawhaio and family are at Kawhia. Napier, Monday. The telegram from here to a Wellington evening paper, stating that Ormond had contracted cancer through smoking a Maori -pipe, is a mistake. It refers to a Mr. Hamlin. A meeting to establish a second boating club is to be held to-night. To-morrow a public meeting is to be held at Taradale, to take steps for preventing injury by the overflow of the Tutaekuri river. The Superintendent, members for the district, engineer, and others are invited. The meeting has been convened by the Highway Board. Tuesday. Richard Sherrin, late editor of Te Wananc/a, was charged at the Police Court to-day by Edgar Whitaker, solicitor, with embezzling £3 55., the moneys of Henare Tomona, proprietor of the paper. Sheehan appeared for the prosecution, Dee for the defence. The case lasted all'day, and was dismissed. Wednesday. At the meeting at Taradale yesterday, re conservation of rivers, the following resolutions were passed—That in order to prevent this district from further damage by the overflow of the Tutaekuri river, it should at once be brought under an Act of Parliament, wherein the necessary powers shall be given to levy a rate sufficient to provide the funds necessary for carrying out such works for its protection as competent engineers ' may decide upon. That, to give effect to the foregoing resolution, a committee be appointed to consider the Conservation of Rivers Act now in force, and report upon the same to a meeting to be held in a fortnight. The committee to consist of Captain Russell, Messrs. Hallet, Davis, O’Dowd, Bazie, Tuke, Sladen, Condie, and Parsons. Foxton, Tuesday. Andrew Young has just returned from Oroua. He did the distance (25 miles) in two hours including stoppages, which was a travelling pace of three minutes to the mile. He speaks in very complimentary terms of the engines which were constructed by Mr. E. W. Mills. They are considered a great success. Wanganui, Tuesday. The preparations for the reception of the representatives are all complete. The range and the camp are ready. Wednesday. The Manawatu and Rangatira arrived off the bar early this morning. The representatives all went aboard the Manawatu, which crossed the bar and steamed up the river, arriving off the wharf at 8.30. The official landing took place at 11, when the Wanganui Cavalry and Rifles received the visitors. They were escorted to the Odd Fellows’ Hall, and entertained at lunch. At 2 p.m. they marched to the camp. The town is fairly decorated, and houses are crowded with sightseers. Thursday. After luncheon yesterday the representatives were permitted to remain in town, or go to the camp, as they chose. Nearly all went to camp in the afternoon. Last night there were heavy showers of rain, but it only served to cool the ground, no harm being done either inside or outside the tents. This morning a general muster was held at 11 o’clock, when it was found that, there were 19 carbine and 43 rifle representatives on the ground. The first carbine match will commence at 2 p.m. All arrangements for carrying out the contest are most complete. New Plymouth, Monday. A notification has been issued to-day by the railway authorities of a reduction in the wharf charges at Waitara. Goods are now Is. per ton, and timber 3d. per 100 feet, Wednesday. In reply to Sir Julius Vogel’s telegram announcing the completion of the cable, the Superintendent thanks him for the intimation, but begs he will bear in mind that New Ply-

mouth is still isolated, and that promises have been made that the wire shall be connected this summer. Davis, Brogden’s representative, is in a fair way to recovery. Nelson, Friday. The landing of the cable was successfully completed yesterday evening. The Edinburgh anchored half-a-mile from the landing place, in six fathoms, with water gradully shallowing. A rope was then taken from her stern and fastened to a large tree which had drifted on the beach. The boat with cable end then started, hauling itself shorewards by the rope. Another followed to assist in bearing the weight of the cable, then another and another, and so on till 10 boats were bearing the cable intervening between the ships and the shore. A gang of men then laid hold of the cable and dragged it into the test house, fifty yards from the beach. A number of excursionists from Nelson were present, who loudly cheered the completion of the work. Just as the whole thing was finished the Tui, with Messrs. Demon and Shapley aboard, entered the inlet. The steamers were to start at 12 o’clock last night, and were expected to effect the junction by two this afternoon. The line between the landing point and Nelson was completed yesterday. The steamers will return to Nelson to-night, and wait till Tuesday, and then proceed to Wellington. Communication was established with Schroeder’s Mistake at seven this evening. Saturday. John Millai*, late Provincial Engineer, was charged at the Police Court this morning with obtaining the sum of £49 15s. from the Provincial Government under false pretences. The Provincial Auditor, who instigates the prosecution, being now in Dunedin, as also the principal witness, the accused was remanded for a week, bail being allowed—himself in £3OO, and two sureties of £l5O each. The cable steamer is at anchor in the bay. Greymouth, Thursday. Active search still made for the missing mail bag. Reward increased to £SO. Otago, from Sydney, tendered here last night, afterwards sailed for Nelson. Hokitika, Saturday. The Waste Lands Board leased 500 acres for twenty-one years, in the Ross district, for working galena and silver mines. The inhabitants of Okarito have numerously petitioned the Superintendent for a new special settlement at Waiteroa. The Borough Council of Hokitika resolved on applying for an Act for the loan, of £20,000 for water supply. It is understood that the Crown Prosecutor has taken proceedings against eight persons for double voting or personating at the Arahura Road Roard election. There were upwards of forty cases. Tuesday. The Waipara has gone out to tender the Otago. She is not expected to return till morning. The passengers for Wellington are Mr. Cox, geologist, and the Rev. Mr. McKay. Christchurch, Friday. The efforts made by Wilson to find an Australian market for stone from his white rock quarry have been attended with success. A vessel is now on her way from Melbourne to Lyttelton to obtain a cargo for use in the erection of a bank in that city. At the inquest on the recent fire in the triangle] this afternoon the jury returned an open verdict, with a remark that they had been called together unnecessarily; and they requested the coroner to inform the Minister of Justice that the inquiry had been made at the instance of the insurance companies without anything to justify it. Monday. In a 100-yard race on Saturday for £5 a-side, between J. F. Gough, of Christchurch, and Davis, business manager for Wilson’s Circus, the latter won easily. Wednesday. Great disorganisation- is reported to exist in the Railway department, and enquiries are pending into charges of incompetence. At a trial of pigeons by members of the Pigeon Flying Club from Ashburton to Christchurch, fifty-five miles, the first bird did the distance in one hour thirty-five minutes. Thursday. Affairs in the Railway department are not in a satisfactory condition. Two officials in the engineer’s department have been suspended, and an inquiry is to be held into the state of the department generally. Mr. Hesketh, the Christchurch stationmaster, has been suspended for insubordination to the traffic manager. Timaru, Saturday. Eight hundred people attended Wilson’s Circus. Owing to the scaffolding not being properly constructed the seats came down with a crash, throwing the occupants to the ground, causing great confusion and very nearly serious disaster from the rush of people. Most of the better class left the circus. The attendance was very rowdy. The lessee of the circus publicly apologised this morning. The Hon. Mr. and Mrs. E. Richardson, Mr. Carruthers, and Colonel Gorton are here. Saturday. Last night a man named Griffiths, a stranger from Christchurch, walked over a cliff forty feet high, sustaining a compound fracture of the right ancle, but no other serious injury. He lay where he fell for three hours, when his groans were heard in a neighboring house, and assistance rendered. Harvesting is going on splendidly all over the district. Thursday. A tremendous rainstorm began about ten last night, and continued till morning. It is said to be the heaviest rain ever known here. Much damage is done to crops in fields and stacks. Several parts of the town are flooded with storm-water, but no harm is done. Weather fine now.

Dunedin, Friday. Lotus Basch, Secretary to the Colonial Building Society, has been arrested on a charge of embezzling five pounds, the property of the society. Monday. The Otago rifle representatives left, by the Ladybird yesterday, Captain Goldie in command. Wise, the expressman, was buried with military honors on Saturday. G. H. Campbell is remanded for a week. The Bench will not grant another remand. The Union Company has reduced firemen’s wages from £l2 to £lO per month throughout their fleet. The Hawea’s men refused to accept the reduction. They have, therefore, all been paid off, and new men shipped. There are plenty of firemen unemployed, and it is believed a still greater reduction would have been successful. Captain Macfarlane, of the Taupo, goes Home by the next ’Frisco mail to bring out the Rotorua. Captain Malcolm will probably take command of the Taupo. Edward Brice has been committed for trial for stealing five horses, the property of McGregor, of Silverstream, North Taieri. Bail has been allowed. Tuesday. A man had his right thigh broken while excavating ground at Hope-place. The numerous entries for the l'aces give promise of a first-rate meeting. It is rumored that another Resident Magistrate, who will preside at the City Court, will be appointed shortly. Blondin will perform here during the race meeting in a paddock on the St. Kikla-road. The railway will carry passengers to the show. Wednesday. The Dunedin School Committee declined to accede to the request of the local Boavd -of Health to close all schools under their control on account of two cases of scarlet fever arising among the pupils of the High School. They replied that the High School was not under their control, and no cases had occurred in their schools. The seamen and firemen hold a meeting tomorrow, to consider the reduction of wages. All the immigration depots in the province are now empty. Thursday. Richard Woodward, recently arrived in the Olive from London, was found drowned yesterday at Logan’s Point. The Mayor exchanged congratulations with the Mayor of Melbourne by telegraph cable. The horticultural show is fixed for the 17th March. Robert Williamson, one of the reporting staff of the Times, has been appointed subeditor. The Mayor has sent a congratulatory telegram to the Lord Mayor of London, touching the telegraph extension. Wilson, of the circus, has been informed by the Mayor that the Southern Market Reserve is let to him for a circus performance, and that he must not allow his tent to be used for other purposes. This prevents Bright lecturing there on Sunday night. The committee who arranged for the lecture will probably secure another place. John Langlands, a prisoner working at the Maitland-street excavation, had his leg broken to-day. Bluff, Wednesday. David Hamilton, steward of the Coomerang, committed suicide this afternoon by drowning himself. Thursday. The night watchman discovered a fire smouldering in the store of Cochrane and Wentworth, grocers, at 10.30 last night. The alarm was immediately given, the engines soon turned out, and water being plentiful, the fire was at once stamped out. The supposed origin is that a match was carelessly thrown down close to a number of bags of chaff. The damage to the stock is estimated at £2O, and to the building £lO. The latter is insured in the South British for £SOO, in the Transatlantic for £3OO, and in the Standard for £2OO. Had the fire obtained the mastery, the whole block of wooden buildings would have been destroyed. Riverton, Saturday. The Western Star, in a strong article commenting on the action of the Provincial Government and contractors re the western railways, after reviewing a long catalogue of grievances which the inhabitants have been subjected to since turning the first sod of the lines, says that the Provincial Government administration of western district railways has shown either total incompetence on one hand, or such implications with the contractor on the other hand, as has completely “ botched” the business ; that there was no doubt their original engineering of the lines was entirely bungled ; and that there was so much delay in carrying on the works, • and so many mysterious complications, as to render clandestine understandings highly probable. It is to be regretted that the state of political affairs prevented the lines being taken over by the General Government before August or September, when the Abolition Bill becomes law. Tuesday. A half-caste named William Fortune was charged at the Police Court yesterday with having committed rape upon Catherine McKenzie at Eastern Bush. . The prosecutrix lived in a cottage half a mile from any other house, and her husband, who is a laborer, was working at a farm about 20 miles distant. The offence was committed on the night of the 12th, when no one was in the house but complainant and three young children. They were all asleep in the same bed, when prosecutrix was awoke by finding a strange man beside her. He got away before she thoroughly awoke, and she was not able to swear to his identity, but strongly suspected the prisoner, as he had been at her house on the previous evening. The accused was remanded for eight days, to enable the police to bring more conclusive evidence.